519 th Transportation Battalion (Truck) Unit Histories

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1 519 th Transportation Battalion (Truck) Unit Histories The following unit histories are from official statements of services with narrative about these units during their tenure in Thailand, while assigned to the United States Army Support Command, Thailand (USARSUPTHAI). Documents and photo s have been collected and placed online with The 519 th Transportation Association, Thailand s website by Joseph J. Wilson, Jr. Sergeant First Class, US Army (Retired). (Official transparency of the 519 th Transportation Battalion ) The 519th Transportation Battalion adopted a tiger as its symbol, based on the dominant figure on its distinctive crest. Personnel from the battalion participated in the design of the distinctive crest which was approved by the Institute of Heraldry on 31 August th Transportation Battalion Crest The insignia is a gold medal and enamel device, one and one eighth inches in height. It consists of a brick-red disk edged in gold with three battlements at the top. In the center is a - gold, black striped tiger's head in profile with jagged extremities. The latter surmount a green wreath in base composed of laurel leaves on one side and palm in the other. On the base and sides of the gold rim is a tri-parted gold scroll inscribed "QUID," "QUANDO," "QUO." in black letters. The motto refers to the battalion's only query when assigned a mission: What is the job? When must the job be done? Where is the job?

2 World War II The 519 th Transportation Battalion was constituted on 1 April 1943, and re-organized as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 302 nd, 303 rd, 304 th, and 305 th Port Companies. It was activated on 25 June 1943 at Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Pennsylvania as the 519 th Port Battalion then embarked from Camp Miles Standish in Boston, Massachusetts aboard the E.P. Alexander to England. After a brief training period, the 519 th Port Battalion participated in the invasion of Normandy, going ashore on 7 June It later moved from Normandy to Antwerp, Belgium on 14 November 1944, where it remained until being inactivated on 3 October Campaign Participation Credit: World War II (embroidered Normandy) Streamers: Normandy (with arrowhead); Northern France; Rhineland. Decorations: Meritorious Unit Commendation (embroidered European Theatre); French Croix de Guerra with Silver Palm; Order of the Day of the Belgian Army for action at Antwerp. Project 572-W On 1 February 1956 the unit was reactivated as the 519 th Transportation Battalion (Terminal Service) at Fort Eustis, Virginia. It was assigned the mission of preparing various boat companies and terminal service companies for participation in Project 572-W (the supply of material for the construction of the DEW line in the Arctic). Its mission completed, the unit was inactivated on 15 December 1957 at Fort Eustis, Virginia. Vietnam War On 20 May 1966 the unit was again activated, this time at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland as the 519 th Transportation Battalion (Motor Transport). Filler personnel were assigned and began arriving in late May. The majority of officers and NCOs were returnees from Europe. The enlisted personnel, for the most part, were fresh out of basic training. By early June, there was sufficient personnel on-hand to begin POR/POM (Preparation for Overseas Movement) training in preparation for deployment to the Republic of Vietnam. During its own training phase, the battalion was assigned the responsibility of supervising the training of various Engineer, Quartermaster, Signal, and Transportation units for deployment to the Republic of Vietnam. When orders arrived the unit had been diverted to the Kingdom of Thailand. In 1966, the 519 th Transportation Battalion contained the following companies: Headquarters and Headquarters, 519 th Transportation Battalion (20 May 1966) 313 th Transportation Company (Refrigerated) (20 May 1966) *572 nd Transportation Company (Medium Truck Cargo) (8 July 1966) 291 st Transportation Company (Medium Truck Cargo) (1 October 1966) *After loading equipment at the port in Baltimore, Maryland personnel from the 572 nd Transportation Company arrived at the port of San Francisco, California where they boarded the USNS General Alexander M. Patch for the 24-day cruise to the Republic of Vietnam on 6 October 1966.

3 Southeast Asia - Thailand On 10 December 1966 advance party elements (personnel and equipment) departed from Andrews Air Force Base aboard C130s headed for the Kingdom of Thailand. The remainder of the battalion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Harry Frederick Middleton and Sergeant Major James John Milele (both WWII and Korean War veterans) completed its move and closed in Thailand on 17 December The 519 th Transportation Battalion soon moved north from Sattahip, to Camp Charn Sinthope near Phanom Sarakham, southeast of Bangkok. Although the unit relocated to Camp Friendship in 1968, it soon returned to Camp Charn Sinthope where it remained until 1970 and was deactivated at Camp Samae San on 20 February In Thailand the 519 th Transportation Battalion contained the following companies: Headquarters and Headquarters, 519 th Transportation Battalion (10 December 1966 Ft Meade, MD 20 February 1971) Camps Charn Sinthope, Friendship & Samae San 260 th Transportation Company (Petroleum) (1 June 1966 Ft Riley, KS 31 October 1975) Camps Charn Sinthope & Samae San 291 st Transportation Company (Medium Truck Cargo) (1 October 1966 Ft Meade, MD 30 June 1971) Camps Friendship & Khon Kaen 505 th Transportation Company (Medium Truck Cargo) (11 November 1966 Ft Benning, GA 30 December 1971) Camp Vayama, with a platoon at Udorn RTAFB line hauling to NKP in th Transportation Company (Reefer) (10 December 1966 Ft Meade, MD 31 March 1972) Bangkok and Camp Friendship 53 rd Transportation Company (Medium Truck Cargo) (10 April 1967 Okinawa 30 December 1970) Camp Vayama 569 th Transportation Company (Medium Truck Cargo) (1 May 1967 Ft Meade, MD 1 April 1970) Camp Khon Kaen 33 rd Transportation Platoon (Reefer) (25 August 1967 Fort Lewis, WA 1 April 1970) Camp Friendship 254 th Transportation Detachment (Trailer Transfer Point Operating) (30 November 1967 Fort Lewis, WA 30 June 1971) Camps Charn Sinthope, Friendship & Khon Kaen The 260 th Transportation Company (Petroleum) initially was issued M51 5-ton dump trucks and attached to the 44 th Engineer Group where they assisted with highway and road construction until such time as M52 5-ton truck tractors and M131 5,000 gallon fuel trailers were available for issue. The unit was based at Camp Samae San in Sattahip. The 260 th Transportation Company (Petro) Constituted in July 1923 in the Organized Reserves as the 935 th Motor Transport Company. Re-designated as Company K, 513 th Quartermaster Truck Regiment on 1 July 1936 then activated as D, 513 th Quartermaster Truck Regiment on 1 April 1943 at Fort Custer, Michigan. Reorganized and re-designated as the 3890 th Quartermaster Truck Company on 15 December 1943 and inactivated in France on 25 June On 1 August 1946, converted and re-designated as the 3890 th Transportation Corps Truck Company. On 13 February 1948, re-designated as the 260 th

4 Transportation Company and activated on 1 March 1948 at Fort Myer, Virginia. On 25 March 1948, Organized Reserves re-designated as the Organized Reserve Corps, then on 9 July 1952 as the Army Reserve. On 9 August 1960 inactivated at Fort Myer, Virginia. Withdrawn on 23 March 1966 from the Army Reserve and allotted to the Regular Army; concurrently re-designated as the 260 th Transportation Company and activated on 1 June 1966 at Fort Riley, Kansas, then inactivated at Camp Samae San, Thailand on 31 October Campaign Participation Credit: World War II-EAME, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe. DECORATIONS: Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) Streamer (embroidered SOUTHEAST ASIA). The 291 st Transportation Company (Medium Truck Cargo) was based at Camp Friendship in Nakorn Ratchasima (Korat) where they transported cargo to northerly US bases. The unit also transported cargo from Camp Friendship to Ubon RTAFB. The 291 st Transportation Company Constituted on 10 November 1942 as D, 467 th Quartermaster Truck Regiment and activated at Fort Custer, Michigan on 10 December Reorganized and re-designated as the 3622 nd Quartermaster Truck Company on 16 December 1943, and inactivated in France on 25 June On 1 August 1946, converted and re-designated as the 3622 nd Transportation Corps Truck Company. Re-designated as the 291 st Transportation Amphibious Truck Company on 13 January 1948 and allotted to the Organized Reserves. It activated on 22 January 1948 at Portland, Maine. On 25 March 1948, Organized Reserves re-designated as the Organized Reserve Corps, then on 9 July 1952 as the Army Reserve. On 1 February 1950 inactivated at Portland, Maine. Withdrawn on 1 October 1966 from the Army Reserve and allotted to the Regular Army; concurrently re-designated as the 291 st Transportation Company and activated at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. On 30 June 1971 inactivated at Camp Samae San, Thailand. Campaign Participation Credit: World War II-EAME, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe. DECORATIONS: Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) Streamer (embroidered SOUTHEAST ASIA). The 505 th Transportation Company (Medium Truck Cargo) was based at Camp Vayama in Sattahip and was the initial line haul operational unit from Sattahip to Takhli RTAFB, and Camp Friendship/Korat RTAFB. One platoon operated from a rail-head at Udorn RTAFB, transporting construction and airfield supplies in the buildup of the Nakon Phanom RTAFB (NKP) near the Laotian border in early The 505 th Transportation Company Constituted on 26 November 1943 as 3640 th Quartermaster Truck Company, activated on 10 December 1943 and inactivated on 8 September 1945 in Italy. Converted and re-designated on 1 August 1946 as the 3649 th Transportation Corps Truck Company concurrently activated at Fort Riley, Kansas. On 7 March 1947 re-designated as the 505 th Transportation Corps Truck Company and re-designated on 15 July 1947 as the 505 th Transportation Truck Company. On 5 January 1949 allotted to the Regular Army. On 1 April 1954, reorganized and re-designated as the 505 th Transportation Company, then inactivated in Japan on 25 March On 23 May 1957 it activated at Fort Benning, Georgia and deployed to Thailand, arriving on 11 November 1966, then inactivated at Camp Vayama, Thailand on 30 December On 20 September 1990 it activated, then inactivated in Korea on 17 March 1991.

5 Campaign Participation Credit: World War II-EAME, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, North Apennines, Po Valley. Korean War: UN Offensive, CCF Intervention, First UN Counteroffensive, CCF Spring Offensive, UN Summer-Fall Offensive, Second Korean Winter, Korea, Summer-Fall 1952, Third Korean Winter, Korea, Summer DECORATIONS: Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) Streamer (embroidered EUROPEAN THEATER); Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) Streamer (embroidered KOREA); Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) Streamer (embroidered SOUTHEAST ASIA). It s interesting to note that in 1990, during Operation Desert Shield, the 505 th Transportation Company (Medium Truck Cargo) was once again activated on 20 September 1990 and inactivated in Korea on 17 March The 313 th Transportation Company (Refrigerated) was based in Bangkok where they transported all refrigerated products throughout US military units in Thailand. The 313 th Transportation Company Constituted on 9 April 1943 as D, 510 th Port Battalion and activated on 15 July 1943 at Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Pennsylvania as 313 th Port Company. On 30 June 1946 inactivated in the Philippine Islands, then re-designated on 13 June 1947 as the 313 th Transportation Port Company and allotted to the Organized Reserves. On 21 June 1947 activated at New York, New York. On 25 March 1948, Organized Reserves re-designated as the Organized Reserve Corps, then on 9 July 1952 as the Army Reserve. Ordered into active military service on 11 September 1950 at New York, New York; released from active military service on 15 September 1954 reverting back to reserve status. On 15 November 1954 reorganized and re-designated as the 313 th Transportation Company and inactivated on 15 May 1959 at New York, New York. Withdrawn on 23 March 1966 from the Army Reserve and allotted to the Regular Army. On 20 May 1966 activated at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland and inactivated at Camp Samae San, Thailand on 31 March Campaign Participation Credit: World War II-AP, Bismarck Archipelago, Luzon, Southern Philippines. DECORATIONS: Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) Streamer embroidered SOUTHEAST ASIA. The 53 rd Transportation Company (Medium Truck Cargo) was based at Camp Vayama in Sattahip and operated port clearance operations at Camp Samae San and the deep water port at Camp Vayama. The 53 rd Transportation Company The parent unit organized March 1943 as 2638th Quartermaster Truck Battalion (Provisional) in North Africa. The 54 th Quartermaster Truck Battalion constituted on 28 May 1943 in the Army of the United States. On 7 July 1943 was re-designated as 54th Quartermaster Truck Battalion. Company C reorganized and re-designated on 3 November 1943 as 3355 th Quartermaster Truck Company. Concurrently, the remainder of the battalion reorganized and re-designated as follows: Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 54 th Quartermaster Battalion (Mobile). Companies A, B, & D as 3353 rd, 3354 th, & 3356 th Quartermaster Truck Companies, respectively with separate lineages. On 12 April 1946 the 3355 th Quartermaster Truck Company inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. On 1 August 1946 converted and re-designated as the 3355 th Transportation Corps Truck Company. Re-designated as the 103 rd Transportation Truck Company and allotted to the Regular Army on 1 September First activated on 10 September 1948, then inactivated on 15 December 1948 at Fort Lewis, Washington. On 1 June 1949 activated at Fort McKinley in the Philippine Islands, then inactivated on 22 July 1949 at Fort Stotensburg in the Philippine Islands. Re-

6 designated as the 53 rd Transportation Heavy Truck Company on 12 September 1952, and activated on 25 October 1952 at Camp Roberts, California. It participated in Operation Desert Rock in Nevada. On 20 June 1953, re-designated 53 rd Transportation Company and participated in Operation Fort Irwin in California on 30 June It participated in Operation Fort Irwin in California on 1 August Assigned to Okinawa on 24 September 1965, then reassigned to the 519th Transportation Battalion on 10 April 1967 serving at Camp Vayama until being inactivated on 30 December 1970 in Thailand. Campaign Participation Credit: World War II-EAME, North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, Belgium, Antwerp "St Albans Victory". DECORATIONS: Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) Streamer embroidered SOUTHEAST ASIA. The 569 th Transportation Company (Medium Truck Cargo) was based at Camp Khon Kaen where they replaced the platoon of the 291 st Transportation Company in the delivery of cargo to Udorn RTAFB, Ubon RTAFB, NKP RTAFB, and Camp Rum Chit Chi in Sakon Nakon. It was the only class B unit in the 519 th Transportation Battalion, with all US military drivers. The 569 th Transportation Company Constituted on 1 January 1942 as D. 399 th Quartermaster Battalion. On 10 February 1942 activated at the San Francisco Port of Embarkation, California. On 31 July 1942 converted and re-designated as D. 399 th Port Battalion, Transportation Corps then reorganized and redesignated as the 569 th Port Company On 25 January 1944 and inactivated on 17 September 1945 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. Re-designated on 5 January 1955 as the 569 th Transportation Company and allotted to the Regular Army. First activated on 24 February 1955 and inactivated on 15 December 1958 at Fort Eustis, Virginia. Next activated on 25 June 1950, then inactivated on 25 March 1963 at Camp Leroy Johnson, Louisiana. On 1 May 1967, activated at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland and inactivated at Camp Khon Kaen, Thailand on 1 April Campaign Participation Credit: World War II-EAME, Algeria-French Morocco, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland. DECORATIONS: Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) Streamer (embroidered SOUTHEAST ASIA). The 33 rd Transportation Platoon (Refer) was based at Camp Friendship in Nakorn Ratchasima (Korat) where they augmented with the 313 th Transportation Company in the delivery of refrigerated cargo to all US military units throughout Thailand. The 33 rd Transportation Platoon (Reefer) Constituted 10 May 1967 and activated on 25 August 1967 at Fort Lewis, Washington. Serving as a valuable element of the 519th Transportation Battalion operating from the Bangkok cold storage facility until the unit was inactivated on 1 April DECORATED: Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) Streamer (embroidered SOUTHEAST ASIA). The 254 th Transportation Detachment (Trailer Transfer Point Operating) was split into three teams based at Camp Charn Sinthope near Phanom Sarakham where they were attached to the 519 th Transportation Battalion, Camp Friendship in Korat where they were attached to the 291 st Transportation Company, and Camp Khon Kaen where they were attached to the 569 th Transportation Company. The 254 th

7 Transportation Detachment was responsible for operating the Trailer Transfer Points along the 519 th Transportation Battalions line haul operating area. Units of the 519 th Transportation Battalion had the unique mission of transporting cargo classified as 972 from December 1966 until December 1969 in support of US air operations in Laos and Vietnam. Operation 972 was sensitive explosives and listening devices commonly called Igloo White or known as the McNamara Line of Defense and was instrumental in detecting enemy troop movement along the Ho Chi Minh Trail and especially around the troops besieged at Khe Sanh. Another unique mission of the 519 th Transportation Battalion was the timely distribution of dairy products to US forces throughout Thailand. Employing a tactic of General Patton during the Second World War, the 313 th Transportation Company dubbed it Red Ball Revived thereby ensuring that sensitive dairy products were expedited and delivered fresh each day. Although these companies came together under the 519 th Transportation Battalion in Thailand, each of them has a distinctive and honored background, in some cases dating back prior to the Second World War. Many of these units served with honor in Europe or in Asia, under combat conditions. A special survey disclosed that the "Tiger Battalion" has the longest line of communication and largest mission of any battalion of its type in the world. For service in Thailand, 519 th Transportation Battalion and its subordinate units were awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) 16 December December GO 308 dated 14 July 1970, and although the documentation became lost over time, Department of the Army issued GO 29 on 30 December 2001 officially recognizing the accomplishments of this great transportation unit and the Meritorious Unit Commendation.